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The number of infections is increasing rapidly. Has the health system learned the lessons of the first wave of infections?
The president of the Cantonal Health Directors Conference (GDK), Lukas Engelberger, describes Corona’s current situation in Switzerland as unstable and critical.
But that does not apply to the situation in hospitals. The situation there is relaxed: “There are few patients with serious diseases, there are also relatively few new deaths.” This shows that the corona pandemic can be addressed.
Hospitals constantly exchange ideas
This is also confirmed in the canton of Vaud, one of the cantons currently most affected by the corona virus. He is well prepared, Philipp Eckert, Director General of Lausanne University Hospital, tells RTS.
If the number increases enormously, entire rooms with beds could be reopened. Everything is organized and ready: the material and the beds are ready.
Currently, despite the high number of corona infections, only a few patients depend on intensive care. But that could change quickly.
Keystone
The Swiss Hospital Association is also well equipped. Director Anne-Geneviève Bütikofer says we learned about the situation in the spring. Today, for example, hospitals would continuously exchange information about the occupation of their beds.
“The information and operations system has been improved.” Now it is possible to transfer patients to another hospital. “As necessary.”
Only a few elderly patients in hospitals
One reason for the relaxed situation in intensive care units across Switzerland is that almost no elderly people have been admitted to hospital so far. “This is more or less a mystery,” says Antje Heise, president of the Swiss Society for Intensive Care Medicine.
It may be that the elderly protect themselves better. Because at this time younger patients are more likely to be treated in hospitals.
Heise is convinced that even if the number of patients in intensive care units increases, other operations will not be postponed so quickly.
“But everything is a question of resources, infrastructure and personnel.” Therefore, you cannot rule out the possibility that non-urgent operations “selectively” may have to be reduced.
Even without Corona, there is a lack of nursing staff
In view of the staff shortage, the Swiss professional association also cares for nursing staff. Material resources have increased, says Pierre-André Wagner.
So one can hope that “the disaster of the first wave” is not repeated with the protective material. But: “Regarding the employment situation, nothing has changed since the first Corona wave.” There is still a lack of nursing staff in many places.
But that’s a structural problem that can’t be solved so quickly, says Engelberger, president of GDK. That has nothing to do directly with the crisis in the crown.
